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Tuesday, May 31, 2016

The Best Players to never appear in a World Cup, Part Five

1- Thomas
Doll

Former
East German International Thomas Doll was one of the first players from the
former East to be integrated into the new unified German National team in
1990/91, along with Matthias Sammer, Ulf Kirsten and Andreas Thom.

He
was an integral part of the National team into the 1992 Euros in Sweden.
Afterwards, he lost the confidence of National Team manager Berti Vogts during
the 1992/93 season, who had grown impatient of Doll’s inconsistency with the
National team. As a result he missed the chance to participate in the 1994
World Cup in USA.

Photo
From: World Soccer, April 1992

(Germany’s Thomas Doll at Lazio, 1991/92)

2- Emlyn
Hughes

1970s
Liverpool skipper Emlyn Hughes is amongst the many English players of his
generation who missed out in playing in the World Cup, since England failed to
qualify for the 1974 and 1978 World Cups.

Photo
From: Onze, Issue 14, February 1977

(Emlyn
Hughes at Liverpool)

3- Ladislau
Boloni

Steaua
Bucharest’s Ladislau Boloni was a standout for Romania in the 70s and early-mid
80s.

He
was born a few years too soon to be part of Gheorghe Hagi’s glorious generation
that could qualify for World Cups with more ease.

Photo
From: Onze, Issue 102, June 1984

(Romania’s
Ladislau Boloni)

4- Johnny
Metgod

Holland’s
Johnny Metgod was an important member of the AZ’67 Alkmaar squad that won the
Dutch League title (and reached the UEFA Cup Final) in 1981.

He
was rewarded with a transfer to Real Madrid and eventually Nottingham Forest.

He
missed the 70s glory years and in his prime, the Dutch National team was fading
and missed on World Cup qualifications in the 80s.

Photo
From: Voetbal International, November 29-December 4, 1982

(Johnny
Metgod at Real Madrid, 1982/83)

5- Enzo
Trossero

Independiente’s Enzo Trossero was actually part
of Cesar Menotti’s World Cup squad in 1982 but saw no action. He participated
in the 1986 World Cup qualifiers and helped Argentina qualify. However, Carlos
Bilardo overlooked him for the main event.